Stocking protector



Dec, 8, 1931. A. CROCK'ER STOCKING PBOTECTOF Filed larch 1a, i929 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 Anna L. m or 'cmcaeo, rumors B'IOOKIN G PROTECTOR Application filed larch 1a, 1029. Serial in. 341,927.

The present invention relates generally to stocking protectors. More particularly the invention relates to those protectors 'which are formed of waterproof material and are adapted, during wet and rainy weather, to be worn around the ankle portions to protect the underlying parts of the wearers stockings from being soiled with mud and the form of a circumferentially continuous tube which is of suflicient width to permit the foot and shoe of the wearer to'be passed readily therethrough and withdrawn without inconvenience or dificulty. When the protector is in its operative position, the side of the so called tube is doubled back or folded in so as to take up the excess material and cause the. protector to fit closely about the ankle of the user. i

I Another object of the invention isthe provision of improved and properly positioned means for holding the protector in place, which includes a vertically arranged or positioned stay operating to preventthe'protector from wrinkling and collapsing aroundthe shoe.

A further-object of the invention is to provide a stocking protector for use in inclement weather, which while affording warmth and rotection to the leg is neat and attractivc 1n appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stocking protector which may be manufactured or produced at a low reasonable cost and is generally an improvement, as far as construction and application are concerned, over previously proposed protectors of this ty Y ()ther o jee'ts of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the shoe to a point intermediate the ankle and present construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed descri tion.

- he invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claim at the cdn'clusion hereof.

In the rawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: p

' Figure 1 is a side elevational View of astocklng protector embodyin the invention, showing the same in its unfd lded or inoper-- ative position, in which position of the protector the foot and shoe of the user may be in'serted .readily and quickly therethrough and withdrawn;

Figure 2 is a plan View, partly in section, illustrating in detail the tubular conformation of the protector and the manner in which the staiy is held and secured in place;

igure 3 is a side elevation, showingthe protector in its operative and folded position circumventing and protecting the an le portion' of the wearers stocking; and

Figure 4 is a plan view, illustrating the manner in which one side of the protector is folded or doubled in so as to cause the protector to conform to and fit closely about the ankle.

The invention is exemplified in a stocking protector which comprises a pair of side pieces 5 and 6. These pieces are formed of any suitable inelastic material, such, for example, as rubberized silk. The piece 5 is adapted to cover one side of the wearers leg and'to extend from the upper parts of the calf. The side piece 6 is coextensive with the piece 5 as far as height is concerned, and is adapted to cover the other side of the wearers leg. The front side marginsof the two pieces are connected together from top to bottom by a strip 7 of tape, and stitching 8. lhe rear s1de mar ins of the two pieces are similarly connect together from top to bottom by a tape strip 9 and stitching 10. Tapes 1]. and 12 are secured respectively to the top and bottom margins of the protector so that the edges cannot torn readily and for reenforcing purposes. These tapes are bent aroundthe edges of the side pieces so as to be of U-shaped cross section and are secured in place by stitching. By securing the side margins together in the manner set forth, the protector is in the form of a circumferentially continuous tube. The back portion of the side piece 6 embodies considerably more material than the back portion of the side piece 5 so that the width of the protector is materially greater than the ankle of the wearer. As a result of this arrangement or construction, the wearers foot and shoe may be readily inserted into and withdrawn from the protector without inconvenience or difficulty, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. The lower front dportlons of the side pieces 5 and 6am exten ed frontwardly' so as to lap and cover the instep when the protector is in its operative position. The bottom marginal parts of the pieces 5 and 6 are adapted to fitover the upper parts of the shoe to prevent the entry of water or mud. After the protector has been shifted into position around the ankle portion of the wearers leg, the rear portion of the side piece 6 is doubled back or folded in, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, so as to cause the protector to be contracted and fit snugly around and conform substantially-to the ankle and associated parts.

' When the protector is in its operative and folded position it is held in place by a pair of straps 14, a pair of straps 15 and a pair of straps 16. The straps 14 are positioned adj acent the top of the protector. One of these straps has one end thereof connected to the front side margins of the pieces 5 and 6 directly beneath the strapll by the stitching 8. One end of the other strap 14 is connected to the rear side margins of the side pieces by the stitching 10. The free ends of said straps 14 are adapted to extend around the side piece 6 and be tied together, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, to hold the folded part in place. The straps 15 are positioned adjacent the central portlon of the protector and are secured in place by the stitching 7 and 10 similarly to the straps 14. The straps 15 are adapted to extend around the side piece 6 and to be tied together to hold the central portion of the protector in place. The straps 16 are located at the lower end of the protector. One end of one of the straps 16 is secured to the rear margins of the side pieces by the stitching 10 and is located directly above thetape 12.

- The other strap 16 has one end thereof se cured to the lower central portion ofthe side piece 6. When the free ends of the straps 16 are tied together, they hold in place the lower end of the protector. The lower front portions of the side pieces 5 and 6 which are adapted to extend over the instep are held in place by an elastic strap .17. This strap is nesaees adapted to extend under the arched portion of the sole of the shoe directl in front of the heel and has the ends thereo sewed or otherwise suitably secured to the tape 12.

To prevent wrinkling of the. protector a stay or stiflened member 18 is PI'OVldBd. This stay is contained or housed within a vertically elongated pocket 19 adjacent the central portion of the side piece 6. The pocket 19 is formed by folding the central portion of the piece 6 into the form of a small loop and stitching the folded portion as at 20. The pocket, as well as the stay, extends from the bottom tape 12 to the top tape 11.

' In applying the protector, the wearer first opens it up and then inserts the foot and shoe therethrough (see Figure 1). During this step the toe of the shoe is positioned under the instep portion of the pieces 5 and 6 and in front of and over the elastic strap 17. After the foot and leg have been inserted into place, the' rear portion of the side piece 6 is doubled back or folded, as indicated in.

Figures 3 and 4, to cause the protector to be contracted and to conform substantially to the parts that are to be protected. The pairs of straps 14, 15 and 16 are then tied together to prevent unfolding of {the folded portion and to'hold the protector in place. When the protector is in its operative position, it

operates to prevent the ankle portion of thewearers stocking from bein soiled by mud or water that may be s las ed by passing pedestrians or vehicles. s previously pointed out, the stay or stifiened member 18 serves to prevent the protector from collapsin and to prevent wrinklingof the rubberize silk material. To remove the protector it is only necessary to untie the straps 14, 15 and 16. This releases the folded portion and permits the protector to be expanded into its normal or inoperative position, in which position said protector is free to he slid 05 the foot and shoe.

.The protector consists of but a small number of parts and may be producedat a low and reasonable cost. Because it is formed of inelastic material, the protector does not interfere with or stop the circulation of blood in the wearers leg.

The invention is not to be-understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the a pended claim, without departing from t e spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the inventlon, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

As a new article of manufacture, a stocking protector comprising a pair of separately formed inelastic waterproof side pieces adapted to fit against the sides of'the wear ers ankle, having the side margins thereof stitched together to form a circumferent1al-= ly continuous tubular member and so formed that the member is coinpar'atively short and adapted to extend over the instep of the wearer and to encircle the ankle beneath the calf of-the 'wearers leg, one of said side ieces being wider than the other, the member em of suficient widt to permit'it to be slippe readil over the cot and shoe, said one side piece back, after the protector has been sliped into place, to cause the member to fit plosely and correspond substantially to the contour of the ankle, and pairs of stra s for holding the folded part in place-an thereby retaining theprotector in its operative position, the

straps of each pair being anchored by thestitching atthe slde margins of the pieces and arranged so that when the are tied together thesy extend across said f0 ded art;

gned at Chicago, Illinois, t is 27th day of February, 1929. a A ANNA L, CROGKER.

eing adapted to be folded or doubled 

